Justice: Magistrates’ and County Courts

Lord Clinton-Davis Excerpts

Monday 15th November 2010 Lords Chamber

[Lord McNally]

My Lords, to a certain extent those are concerns, and we will keep them under close review. However, we live in a more mobile age and justices will be given assistance with travel costs. The longest journey to court—this is an extreme under the new proposals—will be 40 miles, and most journeys will be much less. I understand the concerns but they do not outweigh the fact that, as the Lord Chief Justice, the noble and learned Lord, Lord Judge, said:

“It is obvious that a number of courts in different parts of England and Wales no longer fulfil any sufficiently valuable public purpose”.

[Lord Clinton-Davis]

My Lords—

[Noble Lords]

Trumpington!

Human Rights: Spending Cuts

Lord Clinton-Davis Excerpts

Thursday 7th October 2010 Lords Chamber

Asked By

[Lord Clinton-Davis]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there will be any spending cuts affecting human rights.

[The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally)]

My Lords, we are committed to protecting human rights and restoring civil liberties in the UK, but all our priorities will have to be addressed in a very difficult fiscal context. We will make decisions about how we will achieve our aims after the results of the comprehensive spending review are known on 20 October.

[Lord Clinton-Davis]

What I would have liked to have heard from the Minister is a clear undertaking that human rights internationally would not be affected. This represents, does it not, an invaluable initiative of the late Robin Cook. Can they not see that the protection of international human rights is part and parcel of our security? Is it any small wonder that charities and many MPs of all parties are furious about the possibility that this will come under attack? Is it not right to contrast the way in which the Labour Government supported human rights with this coalition’s comparative indifference?

[Lord McNally]

My Lords, I think that I can give no better answer than to quote a speech by the Foreign Secretary on 15 September—a speech which I commend to all Members of this House. In it, he said:

“There will be no downgrading of human rights under this Government”.

Law Reform: Murder

Lord Clinton-Davis Excerpts

Monday 12th July 2010 Lords Chamber

[Lord McNally]

I can assure the noble Earl that we will. It is a broad issue where the groundwork has been done by the Law Commission. I know that the Lord Chancellor is taking a close personal interest in the matter. We will be bringing forward precise proposals to Parliament in the near future.

[Lord Clinton-Davis]

When does the Minister think that he can come forward with definitive proposals? We cannot kick this into the long grass; we must have a definite date. Is the Minister inclined to venture an opinion as to when it is appropriate?

[Lord McNally]

My Lords, I am looking across at some very distinguished former members of the team at the Ministry of Justice, and I am sure that not one of them would have given the kind of precise date that the noble Lord asks for. As for kicking it into the long grass, that is simply not our intention.

Justice: Legal Fees

Lord Clinton-Davis Excerpts

Monday 21st June 2010 Lords Chamber

[Lord McNally]

I thank the noble Lord for bringing me up to date on that saga. I think there should be a limit on success fees or, as the noble Lord, Lord Pannick, suggested, that the success fee should be borne by the successful claimant.

[Lord Clinton-Davis]

What are the views of the Bar Council and the Law Society about this issue? Do they think it can wait or do they demand urgent action?

[Lord McNally]

We are taking the advice of the Bar Council and the Law Society. Nobody has suggested that the issue should wait. Lord Justice Jackson has produced a 500-page report which even due courtesy would suggest should be studied before the Government proceed to action.

Children: Criminal Responsibility

Lord Clinton-Davis Excerpts

Thursday 10th June 2010 Lords Chamber

[Lord McNally]

My Lords, the simple answer is yes. Whether the strategy of the previous Administration was working may be answered by figures released this morning that show a decrease of 20.7 per cent in the number of young first offenders. That has been achieved by avoiding knee-jerk reaction, using the voluntary sector and giving wide discretion. The direction of travel which we inherited is one which we intend to follow.

[Lord Clinton-Davis]

My Lords—

[Lord Richard]

Will the Minister assure us that the report by the learned judge to which he referred earlier will be made public?